American Muslims share something in common with the exalted first generation Muslims. That is, most of us have undertaken our own hijra (migration). The hijra of Prophet Muhammad and those early Muslims (praise be upon them) was such a seminal event that the Muslim calendar begins with it.
The Prophets message of monotheism, social justice, and egalitarianism the essence of Islam was very much against the prevailing social order. This was the Age of Jahiliyah (Ignorance), where idolatrous worship, slavery, female infanticide and hordes of other unsavoury activities were standard practice. And Mecca, then being a flourishing trade centre, was marked by gross inequities, usurious practices and rampant materialism.
Prophet Muhammad knew that Islam would frontally challenge the existing order. Even though he was committed to Allahs cause, nonetheless he had no intention of destroying his community in order to save it, to use a Vietnam-era maxim. He was fully cognizant of the intense opposition from the existing power structure. The forcing of his message would only result in further turmoil, a civil war. His mission was to save, not destroy society.
Fortunately, the pagan Arabs of Medinah saw the wisdom in the person of the Prophet and invited him to mediate their dispute. Finding an opportunity of a welcoming reception, our prophet decided to migrate to Medinah the hijra . From there Islam spread, eventually to win over Mecca and beyond.
The Prophet chose that particular moment to migrate because of the revelation instructing him to do so. The hijra was a positive mission to establish the first and exemplary Muslim community, and not a negative one of escaping from the persecution at Mecca.
Saved by miracles
Despite the divine directive, the migration was not smooth. The non-believers in Mecca would prefer that the Muslims be destroyed. Thus, the Muslims had to leave in small groups and under cover of night to avoid detection. Tradition has it that the Prophet was saved in his hijra through a series of miracles. One had it that when he and his companion Abu Bakar took refuge in a cave, they could hear the footsteps of the pursuing Meccans. Just then a spider began spinning a web at the entrance of the cave, and when the Meccans peeked into the cave and found the web intact, they concluded that no one could possibly be in there.
Present-day American Muslims are emulating the best tradition of the Prophet in undertaking our own migration. There are many reasons why we leave our native land. These can be divided basically into two factors, that of push and the other of pull .
Many are simply pushed out of their native land, ending up as refugees in America and elsewhere. This is the fate of Muslims from East Africa escaping the tyranny of Idi Amin, the Bosnians from the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, and the Chiam people of Cambodia and Vietnam from the communist regime. These are truly brave Muslims.
It is the duty of Muslims to leave places where they are persecuted and suppressed even if that involves forsaking their homes and properties. In Surah An Nisaa , (4:97) (approximate translation), When the angels take the souls of those who die in sin, they say, In what plight were ye? They replied: Weak and oppressed we were on earth. They say, Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away from evil? Such persons will find their abode in Hell What an evil Refuge! Allah spares only those who are weak and oppressed, men, women and children who have no means in their power, nor can they find a way to escape.
Better opportunities
The second group are those who are not pushed out but instead are attracted to the better opportunities afforded in the West. America gives the freedom to practise our faith without interference. Its commitment to human freedom as enshrined in the Bill of Rights is very much in the spirit of Islam. America also provides unlimited opportunities to pursue knowledge and self-improvement. It has been described as a land of second chances; I believe it is the land of many chances.
One particular group of immigrants is deserving of our praise the Islamic scholars. These brilliant individuals are persecuted and not allowed to develop their talent back in their native land. In America they are welcomed with open arms and given every opportunity to pursue their knowledge and spread their wisdom. As a result America and Islam are blessed with the flowering of their scholarships.
It has been said that the second renaissance in Islam will come in America. I agree. Throughout history, Islam flourishes only where there is freedom. And America provides that.
The losers are the Muslim nations which do not value the gems within their midst. Such scholars as Ebrahim Mossa from South Africa, now at Duke University; Abdullah Naim from Sudan now at Emory; and the late Fazlur Rahman of the University of Chicago, bring fresh insights into Islam. They have given us a better understanding of our faith. Major top American universities now have endowed Chairs in Islamic Studies. These scholars are indeed doing the cherished work of dakwah for the cause of Islam.
The Sept 11 terrorists attacks do not in any way alter the scene. While there has been greater scrutiny of visitors and potential migrants from Muslim countries and of some American Muslim organisations, I consider this a temporary aberration. I do not feel any differently today than before 9/11. American Muslims were similarly tested two decades earlier during the Iranian hostage crisis.
With the freedom afforded in America, there comes, naturally, differences in views and opinions. These are healthy. Americans more than anyone else have learnt to live with our differences peacefully. Indeed Islam teaches us to be tolerant. Allah has purposefully created this earth with its diversity of inhabitants. He has reminded us, And among His signs is the creation of the Heaven and the Earth; and the variations in your languages and your colours. ( Surah 30:27 The Roman). We must learn not only to accept this diversity but also to celebrate it. Today America is the most diverse nation.
The American democratic tradition is the very essence of Islam. As a hadith says, Allah will not allow his community to be in errors. We are more likely to arrive at the right decision through the consensus of the community the essence of the democratic process rather than by the decree of a single powerful leader.
There are those who think that it is unpatriotic to migrate. To those of this persuasion, ponder this beautiful verse from that great Iranian mystic poet, Jalalludddin Al-Rumi:
Muhammad says, Love of ones country is part of the faith.
But dont take that literally!
Your real country is where you are heading,
Not where you
are .Dont misread that
hadith. . .Its right to love your home place, but first ask,
Where is that really?
Dr M BAKRI MUSA is a surgeon in Silicon Valley, California and the author of The Malay Dilemma revisited: race dynamics in modern Malaysia . His views on Malaysia can be stated thus: Ours is a diverse nation; we can accept and celebrate this reality or by default, it becomes a liability.
